It’s a bit of a change of tune for Dart, who shrugged off concerns after taking a couple of big hits last season as he returned from a two-game absence, telling reporters after the Week 13 loss to the New England Patriots that he won’t change his style of play because hits are “just part of the game.”
He noted Thursday that nothing will be different in terms of how hard he fights for his team.
“I mean my competitiveness won’t change at all,” Dart said when asked how difficult it will be to balance sliding and competitive spirit. “I think, like I said, it just goes into the situation. Just what time it’s worth it and what time it’s not. And just making those mature decisions.”
Harbaugh has a lot of experience working with dual QBs and emphasizing proper risk assessment. Former signal caller Lamar Jackson, the most prolific scrambler in NFL history, has dealt with injuries, but he also has a knack for minimizing dangerous hits on the run. Jackson waxed or shrunk for previous seasons, depending on his assessment of what was missing from his game.
Dart has apparently done the same for Year 2, telling reporters he showed up to organized team activities at a similar weight but is “leaner.”
“I’m probably the most mobile I’ve been in my career right now,” Dart said. “Just the hips and the separation from the upper body to the lower body, being able to throw. I think my body is in the best shape it’s ever been.”
It’s a good start to feel at his best in May, a long way from his first campaign and many more months before a serious tackle. The goal as the Giants move into the upcoming season is to keep Dart in top form by playing smart.
New York will go the way it does, and he knows full well that Giants fans are more optimistic about the club’s chances than they have been in quite some time.
“This fan base and everything around it, everyone has been so hungry for so long, especially to have an established culture and identity as a team, a product that can be consistent on the field every week,” Dart said. “And fortunately, we got a coach that’s far beyond what he’s done in his career. And I think everybody in the organization has been really excited to just see how much buy-in we’ve had so far. And everybody’s just hungry every single day, and I think it starts with the guy at the top.”